Richard DeForest

RICHARD "RICK" DEFOREST

Cedar Rapids

Richard Hugh "Rick" DeForest, 51, of Fort Collins, Colo., passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017, after a valiant battle with prostate cancer.

Rick was born on July 7, 1966, in Torrance, Calif., to Terrye and Richard. He is survived by his parents, Terrye Wiggins (George) of Laramie, Wyo., and Richard DeForest of Evergreen, Colo.; his siblings, Steve DeForest of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, John DeForest (Jeanne) of Longmont, Colo., Kris DeForest (John) of Englewood, Colo., Lea DeForest (Dan) of Elgin, Texas, and Kellie DeForest (Brandon) of Lakewood, Colo.; two nephews, Jack DeForest and Cato Grace; beloved aunts, uncles and cousins; and many, many close friends.

Rick grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Monmouth, Ill., where he graduated from Warren High School in 1984. He attended Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Ill., and studied auto mechanics. He lived near Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, Colo., and most recently was employed as a machinist by Woodward Governor.

Rick was an avid biker and a talented mechanic who could fix anything on wheels and was fascinated by tools of all kinds. Rick loved riding his Harley on sunny days, attending the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota, hunting elk with his dad and brothers in the Rocky Mountains, fishing in the Mississippi River with friends and family in Illinois, hitting junkyards and fixing up old cars in his driveway, cracking jokes over beers, helping his family and friends with home projects and car repairs, and reading everything from Maxim to Marx.

Rick loved his family and was deeply devoted to his friends. When he was a little boy Rick was standoffish and shy, but grew to be a man who loved fearlessly. He was a smart, kind, fun and generous person with a hilarious wit and a big heart. If there was a bank account for favors and helping people out, Rick made a lot of deposits and few withdrawals. Rick constantly was concerned about the needs and feelings of those around him – parents, siblings, friends, nurses – until the day he died. Everyone who knew Rick will have a big hole to fill now that he's gone. We miss him so much.

A celebration of Rick's life will take place on Sunday, Aug. 27, and anyone who knew and loved him is invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Rick DeForest to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (pcf.org) and the Larimer County Humane Society (larimerhumane.org).

In honor of Rick, please get your PSA checked!